Walking/balance etc

[VBakert]

Hi everyone, I’m new here and to MS diagnosis and grateful for any suggestions on improving balance/walking etc. How long did it take you to regain abilities after major attack?

Any tips are much appreciated.

[VBakert]

So many thanks for your reply.

How severe does the foot drop have to be for the afo to make a difference?

[MS_Indestructible]

Welcome to a wonderful site. My balance has been off since my dx in 2007. I always carry a cane when out of the house. It is not so much about balance as much as it is about falling. I am not able to adjust fast enough to catch myself with out a cane. I don't walk much, too much pain in my hips and feet. I wish I had better news for you, but this MS monster takes your life away and it is up to you to adjust or not. I keep trying to do things I used to do but many times I have to do them differently. I have the more progressive form of MS so I don't have attacks per-sa I just have many symptoms which come and goes but mostly stay and never go away. This is a great site to ask questions about MS. I wish you luck on your new journey ~terry

[CraigS]

For safety sake, I use my "rollabout".

Of course you have to outfit it with a cane holder and the all important beer holder. Aaahh, beer. Now there's a mood enhancer!😃🍺

[Peruzzot in reply to CraigS]

If I get to the point that I need one of those I'll have to remember the beer holder attachment though I'll have to settle for A&W Root Beer. All the other brands taste like bad medicine to me. I can't have actual beer. I'm highly allergic to alcohol and can't eat, drink, use anything containing it. It is a rare allergy and like MS I'm stuck with it.

[CraigS in reply to Peruzzot]

Wow!

Now I’m really sad. 😕

JK, do what makes you happy!

I like A&W too

Craig

[erash]

My balance is fine...until it isn't 😜 Truly, it varies from moment to moment. I do yoga and tai chi and I think that has been helping. The research says it does. All I know is, when I leave the yoga class, it's the only time I feel like I am walking normally. Unfortunately, it isn't sustained. Yesterday, I decided I needed to do yoga 24/7 so I could walk normally all of the time!

When I start to lose confidence in my balance, I begin to walk with a wide stance gait (like I just got off a horse). My PT told me to strengthen my hip abductors (think side leg lifts) to combat that.

The brain is plastic and can change, and re-learn, so it is worthwhile to retrain it. I hope this helps!

[erash in reply to erash]

P.S. Good YouTube adaptive yoga for MS series adaptiveyogaforms.com/#prac...

Scroll down the page for the videos

[Peruzzot]

I have a small almost flat balance disk that I stand on one foot at a time. I initially got it to help build my ankle muscles back up after I broke my ankle. I was running and put my foot in a pot hole the wrong way and snapped it. That friggin hurt. On top of that I had to drive my husband's car back to the house so that he could go to work. His car was a stick shift. Changing gears was never so painfull. Anyway I've found that it helps with balance as well. But I keep a chair within hands reach to grab onto if I need it. I found a few online that cost between $20-$25. It might help build up your leg and core muscles that help with balance.